Prairie dog
Black footed ferret
Box turtle
Meadowlark
Yellow-headed black bird
Mule dear
Bull snake
Squirrel
Bison
Prairie rattlesnake
Burrowing owl
Greater prairie chicken
Pronghorn
Marmot
Pocket gopher
Mice
Coyotes
Beetle
Caterpillar
Grasshopper
Rat
Rabbit
Abiotic
Summers- Hot/dry (can get to over 100* F)
Winters-Cold (most of precipitation falls as snow in winter)
Rain/snow average 20-35 inches per year (most falls in wintertime)
Fire common ( can be set by humans or lightning)
Very rich soil (lots of nutrients)
THREATS
The grasslands are being transformed into farmland. Prairie dogs are being shot, trapped, and poisoned by farmers because they feel that the prairie dogs are competing with the cattle for food. The cows often step in the prairie dogs’ burrows and trip or break their legs. People also bulldoze over prairie dogs’ burrows. Either the prairie dogs come back to find that their home is gone, or they are buried by the bulldozer. Another threat is burrow fumigates where toxic gases are released into a prairie dogs burrow.
IMPORTANCE
Prairie dogs provide a stable food source for animals such as coyotes and snakes. Coyotes and snakes also help control the mice and rat population. The prairie dogs’ burrows are also helpful. Burrowing owls, snakes, ferrets, insects, and other creatures live in these holes. They also help to aerate the soil and distribute nutrients. CONSERVATION PLAN
To reduce the amount of prairie dogs that are killed, we will place signs around the areas which we know prairie dogs have inhabited, saying that prairie dogs are living here, and to be careful of where you are going. Prairie dogs that inhabit farmland will be humanly moved to a different location. Also, we will try to pass a law that makes it illegal to kill prairie dogs. It will also be illegal to spray poisons around the area, as this kills the prairie dogs and it also bad for the environment. Since prairie dogs are such an important part of the prairie food chain, it’s critical that we are able to keep them alive.
CITATIONS
Original image: 'untitled' http://www.flickr.com/photos/19753742@N00/8058515
by: Corin Royal Drummond http://flickr.com/photo/60417851@N00/3738949755
DESCRIPTION
Grasslands are big, open spaces that receive 10-30 inches of rain per year. They are commonly found between forests and deserts.
Biotic
Plants
Biome
Purple needle grass
Goldenrods
Fox tail
Wild oats
Ryegrass
Buffalo grass
Asters
Sunflowers
Clovers
Wild indigos
Cone flowers
Animals
Prairie dog
Black footed ferret
Box turtle
Meadowlark
Yellow-headed black bird
Mule dear
Bull snake
Squirrel
Bison
Prairie rattlesnake
Burrowing owl
Greater prairie chicken
Pronghorn
Marmot
Pocket gopher
Mice
Coyotes
Beetle
Caterpillar
Grasshopper
Rat
Rabbit
Abiotic
Summers- Hot/dry (can get to over 100* F)Winters-Cold (most of precipitation falls as snow in winter)
Rain/snow average 20-35 inches per year (most falls in wintertime)
Fire common ( can be set by humans or lightning)
Very rich soil (lots of nutrients)
THREATS
The grasslands are being transformed into farmland. Prairie dogs are being shot, trapped, and poisoned by farmers because they feel that the prairie dogs are competing with the cattle for food. The cows often step in the prairie dogs’ burrows and trip or break their legs. People also bulldoze over prairie dogs’ burrows. Either the prairie dogs come back to find that their home is gone, or they are buried by the bulldozer. Another threat is burrow fumigates where toxic gases are released into a prairie dogs burrow.
IMPORTANCE
Prairie dogs provide a stable food source for animals such as coyotes and snakes. Coyotes and snakes also help control the mice and rat population. The prairie dogs’ burrows are also helpful. Burrowing owls, snakes, ferrets, insects, and other creatures live in these holes. They also help to aerate the soil and distribute nutrients.
CONSERVATION PLAN
To reduce the amount of prairie dogs that are killed, we will place signs around the areas which we know prairie dogs have inhabited, saying that prairie dogs are living here, and to be careful of where you are going. Prairie dogs that inhabit farmland will be humanly moved to a different location. Also, we will try to pass a law that makes it illegal to kill prairie dogs. It will also be illegal to spray poisons around the area, as this kills the prairie dogs and it also bad for the environment. Since prairie dogs are such an important part of the prairie food chain, it’s critical that we are able to keep them alive.
CITATIONS
Original image: 'untitled'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/19753742@N00/8058515
by: Corin Royal Drummond
http://flickr.com/photo/60417851@N00/3738949755
Original image: 'Utah Prairie Dog'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/66727626@N00/337867686
by: James Marvin Phelps
Original image: 'La Vanille Crocodile Farm'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/74743437@N00/181340593
by: Joachim S. Müller
Original image: 'Western Meadowlark_9037'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/93452626@N00/98162877
by: Pete
Original image: 'Yellow-headed Blackbird'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8771526@N03/2480136514
by: Teddy Llovet
Original image: 'Ain't takin' no Bull!'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/33403047@N00/3589617376
by: Pat
Original image: 'Elk Island'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/71482738@N00/3653194820
by: Dave
Original image: 'Rattler'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/51035555243@N01/3369567441
by: Thomas Hawk
Original image: 'DSC_0192.jpeg'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/66777430@N00/4402552174
by: Russell Neches
Original image: 'Hopping Mice'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/26768348@N00/519649900
by: Stephen Michael Barnett
Original image: 'Know yourself.'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/84826593@N00/3205374952
by: d hutcheson
Original image: 'Escaravelho // Beetle (Mylabris quadripunctata)'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/58213213@N00/514384866
by: Valter Jacinto
Original image: '[[www.flickr.com/photos/77436208@N00/2571253205|Prairie Dog Posse]]'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/77436208@N00/2571253205
by: Erica Marshall